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TDIB 31 August 2010

September starts tomorrow! Here are some questions about what you'd like to see with regards to call-ups.

1. Who do you want to see called up?
2. How much playing time would you like these players to receive for the next month? If a lot, at whose expense?
3. What is your reasoning for calling these players up? To see what they're capable of as a possible future piece of the puzzle, or as a reward for a good season?
4. What do you see these players' roles as on the big club going forward?

Posted by Dave Rutt on Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 11:34 AM EDT.

TDIB 31 August 2010 | 32 comments | Create New Account

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Matthew E - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 12:48 PM EDT (#221780) #

I want them to call up a catcher, an infielder, an outfielder, and a few pitchers. Doesn't have to be right away; they can wait for the AAA season to end if they like. I'd like the callups to be used for giving the regulars some rest and to give the starting pitchers a break on innings pitched.

The catcher can be Arencibia, in which case I'd like him to start about three games a week, with Buck and Molina splitting the other two. They can even DH Arencibia in some games if they like.

I don't really care about the outfielder; the Jays have five OFs at the moment and if any of the four guys in the starting rotation needs a break, well, that's what Wise is there for. Unless they want a look at Lubanski or someone, which would also be fine.

The infielder, well, that's kind of pending Encarnacion's return. No reason McCoy can't stick around the rest of the year, and maybe they could take another look at Hoffpauir.

I'd like Richmond to come up and take over a spot in the rotation the rest of the way. Not sure who else they've got who can fill a similar role, making sure Romero and Marcum and Cecil don't get overextended. Rommie Lewis, maybe? And I'd bring up Accardo and Roenicke just to have their arms around.

Among the names I mentioned (Hoffpauir, McCoy, Lubanski, Lewis, Richmond, Accardo, Roenicke), there may be somebody who can actually help this team next year, and September is a good time for such a guy to take a step forward. I hope they get the chance.

John Northey - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 12:49 PM EDT (#221781) #

Who do I want up?
JPA: we need a 3rd catcher and he has killed the ball all year. I'd mix and match him into the DH/CA roles with Molina and (if safe to be a type B free agent) Buck losing time the most plus Lind/Overbay missing some time.

Jason Lane: has killed the ball in LV 341/428/572 and could be a 4th outfielder in 2011 (between him, Wise, and Lewis imo, assuming Lewis wouldn't be a pain on the bench). Even is a useful emergency pitcher- used 4 times in Vegas with a 3.86 ERA (4 2/3 IP, 3 BB 3 SO, 2 R, 5 H 1 HR)

Jarrett Hoffpauir: hit well in Vegas, would be nice to have another guy to play third so we don't have to watch McDonald play semi-regularly.

Pitching...
Shawn Hill: if healthy as he is a contender for the 5th slot in 2011, same applies to Scott Richmond and Brad Mills - all would be used to fill in open rotation slots as guys run out of innings.

Josh Roenicke: Wild when given a shot earlier, but could be in the pen mix in 2011, could eat a few innings when needed.

Jeremy Accardo I'd rather not see up again - his K/9 in AAA was a sad 5.4 and I just don't see him as being a useful pitcher for the Jays anymore.

Mike Forbes - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 12:50 PM EDT (#221782) #

1. Who do you want to see called up?
I'm just gonna touch on one, Chris Lubanski.

2. How much playing time would you like these players to receive for the next month? If a lot, at whose expense?
I'd like to see him get 15-20 at bats at the expense of Lyle Overbay or Fred Lewis.

3. What is your reasoning for calling these players up? To see what they're capable of as a possible future piece of the puzzle, or as a reward for a good season?
A little bit of both. Lubanski has a very nice pedigree and is still young enough to be considered a prospect. Had a nice bounceback year after coming over from the Royals system.

4. What do you see these players' roles as on the big club going forward?
If Overbay leaves, I could see Lubanski filling a part time role. Fill in at LF, DH and perhaps even first. If he keeps hitting, he could become an everyday player at some point.

bpoz - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 01:07 PM EDT (#221783) #

I would only call up players currently on the 40 man roster. I am not sure but there is no way I would burn an option on say Drabeck because he was added to the 40 man roster before the end of this season which is Oct 3rd.
The 2 starts that Brad Mills made in 2009 wasted an option, however if he could not make more starts in 2009 due to injury then that is OK.
The 20ABs that JPA has had so far is also a waste of an option. So I would definitely call him up and take away a lot of playing time from Molina after Morrows last start. Buck gets to play so as to improve his Type A/B free agency.
McCoy and Hoffpauir as spot start, pinch runner and maybe but unlikely pinch hitter.
Mills would take all of Morrow's starts since he is the most deserving based on a good AAA season and he is healthy. Richmond and Perez for the pen ( I see that as their future on this team) and a start if needed. Purcey back to the pen. The extra bullpen help is there only to relieve overuse because the starter was pulled early. I would still have our top relievers do their regular jobs so that we can give the team the best chance to win as well as improve their FA status.

Mike Green - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 01:23 PM EDT (#221784) #

A third catcher (it doesn't really matter who), Brad Emaus and a starting pitcher or two. With Encarnacion's injury, I'd like to see Emaus out there, but it doesn't look like the organization agrees. I'd love to see Mastroianni get a trial after the AA playoffs are over, but that is not likely to happen either.

John Northey - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 01:30 PM EDT (#221786) #

To me you try to avoid doing first time ever call-ups in September unless there is a strong reason for it. September rarely provides a good look at what a player can do (see Randy Ruiz 2009 for a good example) and can lead to false expectations.

To me you want to promote role players and reward guys who've had killer years. There are few outside of JPA who have had killer years. The roster needs would be a 3rd catcher, pinch runner/defensive replacements, and spare arms for the rotation/pen.

Thus why I'd lean towards guys like Lane (over 30), Hoffpauir (already been up), and Hill/Richmond/Mills/Roenicke (all have ML service time). If JP hadn't been called up already I'd probably have left him down and called up Raul Chavez instead as playing time could be scarce in September and with a young pitching staff veteran's behind the plate are always a nice thing to have.

John Northey - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 01:33 PM EDT (#221788) #

Just thought - Adeiny Hechavarria might be a callup due to a contract/verbal agreement. His #1 goal was to get to the majors quickly so I could see the Jays offering that to him (September call-up) to ensure they got him. He is on the 40 man roster already, so I guess it would land into the 'why not' category. It would be nice to see what he has got in the majors.

tercet - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 01:57 PM EDT (#221791) #

Richmond, Hill, Lewis, Roenicke, Arencibia, Emaus, Lubanski

No need to bring up hech, let him be an average hitter in the minors before he is in the majors.

TamRa - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 02:03 PM EDT (#221794) #

I've never heard before that being a September call up burns an option and I am inclined to think it doesn't, if i understand what i'm reading on Cott's correctly. An option seems to be an assignment to the minors AFTER having been added to the 40

so the only sense in which a September recall burns an option is if the guy you recall didn't have to be added to the 40 this winter anyway.

If that's true then I'd recall:

Mills, Richmond, Hill (if healthy), Roenicke, Purcey, and MAYBE Accardo

Emaus, Arencibia, and Loewen (I think Thames and probably Mastorianni are probably ahead of Loewen at this point but because of his age and unique contractual situation, i think there's something to be said for letting the major league staff get a little look at him)

However, that said, Loewen will surely stay in NH until the playoffs finish so that would only be for the last couple of weeks.

A case can be made for giving Drabek Cecil's last two starts as well - I wouldn't object to that or be particularly disappointed if it didn't happen

Original Ryan - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 02:31 PM EDT (#221797) #

so the only sense in which a September recall burns an option is if the guy you recall didn't have to be added to the 40 this winter anyway.

That's correct. Drabek needs to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason, so it doesn't really matter if he's added in September or November.

That said, I doubt we'll see Drabek in September. New Hampshire is going to the playoffs, so no one from that team is likely to be promoted until those are over. Also, Drabek might be at his innings limit once the playoffs are over and be unable to pitch for the Jays anyway.

Magpie - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 02:56 PM EDT (#221800) #

As I look at the 40 man roster, it stands at 39 (plus the two guys on the 60 day DL). Which leaves one slot available, two if they move Litsch to the 60 day.

I would have expected to see Rommie Lewis, but he's on the DL right now. Don't know if it's serious or not.

I would assume Arencibia is more or less automatic.

I think there are already more outfielders up here than there is playing time. With the exception of Thames, the ones on the farm don't look much like prospects to me anyway. Even Mastroianni is pretty old for his level, no?

A couple of pitchers are clearly needed: Mills, Richmond. Maybe Roenicke. But not Drabek.

Might as well have Hoffpauir here as well. Emaus could be useful as well.

Random, totally unexpected pick: David Cooper. I wouldn't do it myself, but is it possible that the light went on halfway through this season?

Jonny German - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 02:57 PM EDT (#221801) #

I find the general indifference about a 3rd catcher a little puzzling. I for one am very interested to know if Arencibia can be The Catcher of the Future.

So, I would call up JPA and play him plenty, both at catcher and DH. Molina would ride the pines, as I'd be declining his option toot sweet in the offseason, even if I don't think I can get Buck to come back.

Of the pitchers the one I'd specifically like to see get some innings is Roenicke, he looks promising and next year's pen is wide open at this point.

I don't know how it is that Accardo had just 1 random great season in him, but that seems to be the conclusion from the Blue Jay braintrust.

Magpie - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 02:59 PM EDT (#221802) #

Purcey doesn't need to be recalled - he's on the major league DL. He just has to be activated.

I see Jamie Vermilyea is back, and has been assigned to Las Vegas. Filling the spot of someone coming up tomorrow?

Magpie - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 03:03 PM EDT (#221804) #

I don't know how it is that Accardo had just 1 random great season in him

I don't think he's the same guy. When he had his big year, he did it with the Tom Henke combination: a 94-95 fastball and a splitter. Neither the splitter nor the fastball command was as good as Henke's, but there was only one true Terminator. Anyway, since his injury, he's lost a couple of feet off the fastball, and the splitter seems to have disappeared completely. Along with much of his command.

China fan - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 03:10 PM EDT (#221805) #

Jonny, you'd be indifferent to the loss of both Buck and Molina next season? After the excellent job that they did in handling the young pitching staff this season? Even while you're simultaneously admitting that you don't know if JPA is the Catcher of the Future?

Jonny German - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 03:32 PM EDT (#221808) #

Not at all - I would love to have Buck back, and I'll be most happy if Molina is sent packing. I think Arencibia is likely the Catcher of the Future, and if not I'm confident he'll at least be respectable.

Does that average out to indifferent? Not sure what I said to give the impression of indifference.

I'd rather not have the 2011 pitching staff dealing with brand new catchers, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it. If Buck tells me he needs a 4-year contract and/or a guaranteed 400 AB per year, then brand new catchers it is. It worked just fine this year. Buck did not come with a great defensive reputation (as far as I know), and Molina's is clearly overstated. Maybe people assume he's good at defence because he can't hit.

Magpie - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 03:43 PM EDT (#221810) #

Maybe people assume he's good at defence because he can't hit.

People always make that assumption. I would agree that Molina's defense (with the exception of his arm)is not all that impressive. On the other hand, he has worked very well with the young pitchers. And Buck definitely isn't coming back if his job is going to be to caddy for Arencibia. So you may need to resign yourself to more Molina!

Thomas - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 03:48 PM EDT (#221812) #

I would call up Arencibia and try to get him a bunch of at-bats at both catcher and DH. I'm not sure the front office will be as quick to decline Molina's option as Jonny German wants, but everyone knows what Molina is. He should make maybe two starts after Morrow's last outing.

I'd call up Roenicke to help in the pen and active Purcey, if he's healthy. I'd probably recall Lewis if his injury isn't serious, as well. I'd call up Richmond and look for him to take over Morrow's spot in the rotation. I would have Mills to take over Cecil's spot for his last two starts, so I might keep him stretched out in Florida and recall him when needed. I would pass on Drabek.

I wouldn't mind Mastroianni seeing time in the majors and filling Wise's role as primary pinch-runner and defensive replacement, but I don't think that will happen. If Encarnacion's injury doesn't allow him to return this season, I'd recall Hoffpauir. If not, he's not as necessary as the team is fine with McDonald and McCoy, but I don't mind if he comes up. In an ideal world Lubanski gets a shot, but I wouldn't call him up on this team. I wouldn't want his at-bats to come at the expense of Snider or Bautista. I don't see where else he plays unless Lind plays 1B, but the Jays don't seem likely to replicate that experiment in the near future. In theory he could eat solely into Lewis' playing time, but I don't think that's likely to happen.

Kasi - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 04:04 PM EDT (#221814) #

JPA is the one I'd like back of course, just to learn from our catchers if nothing else. Starters to spell our tired guys if they hit inning caps.

What I don't want is any player here who will take at bats away from the guys who I think need it the most. So no one to take at bats away from Snider or Escobar. Hence I'm not a big fan of bringing Lubanski up.

TamRa - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 06:05 PM EDT (#221830) #

That said, I doubt we'll see Drabek in September. New Hampshire is going to the playoffs, so no one from that team is likely to be promoted until those are over. Also, Drabek might be at his innings limit once the playoffs are over and be unable to pitch for the Jays anyway.

Applying the 120% Formula, Drabek is good for a maximum of five more starts. Assuming normal rest he would have one more regular season start and two playoff starts if NH advanced to the championship - so he could theoretically afford two major league starts in the last couple of weeks.

China fan - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 06:23 PM EDT (#221832) #

Jays have confirmed today that Purcey and JPA will be brought up tomorrow, and a further 4 to 5 others could be promoted next week. They also announced that Scott Richmond has been promoted to Las Vegas today. Maybe he'll get one start at AAA and thence to the Jays.

If there are 4 to 5 others, in addition to JPA and Purcey/Carlson, that's a relatively large number. Even if you include an infielder (Encarnacion or McCoy) and a couple more pitchers (Richmond, Mills and perhaps Roenicke), there could still be room to include A-Hech if he has a contractual agreement to that effect.

China fan - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 06:31 PM EDT (#221833) #

Jordan Bastian tweets that the Jays will send the following players to Peoria in the Arizona fall league: RHPs Daly (Dunedin), Farina (NH), Farquhar (NH) plus 1 more pitcher; infielders Hechavarria (NH) and McDade (Dunedin) & outfielder Thames (NH).

That's a pretty good indication of who the Jays foresee as their top prospects over the next year or two. Good news for McDade and Thames, and confirms their status as the top power hitters in the system. (I'm hoping that Thames might even garner a promotion to the Jays at some point next season -- his 2010 numbers are that good.) Also good news for Farina and Farquhar, who could be in line for bullpen jobs on the Jays within the next 12 months or so.

Magpie - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 06:43 PM EDT (#221835) #

If Adam Lind isn't going to the instructional league (I wouldn't bother either), I assume the team is looking for a first baseman this winter.

TheBunk - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 08:59 PM EDT (#221843) #

The AFL rosters aren't necessarily an indication of who the team believes are their top prospects. Top pitching prospects are rarely sent to the AFL unless the pitcher needs to get innings in due to an injury in season.

Dave Till - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 11:18 PM EDT (#221847) #

Totally unrelated to anything, but I wanted to mention it somewhere: if you're a Jays fan, please take the time to savour and enjoy Jose Bautista's hot streak.

I've been watching Blue Jays baseball since the beginning, and seriously since 1983, and I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this. Delgado, Barfield and McGriff have had hot streaks at the plate, but I've never seen a more dangerous home run threat than Jose right now.

It probably won't last - how could it? Next year, he might lose a fraction of a millisecond of timing, or he might suffer an injury, or pitchers just might stop throwing to him. He'll probably be effective, but the magic will be gone. Enjoy it while it lasts; take the time to watch his at-bats more closely. That is all.

(As for callups: JPA, a fling of pitchers, maybe a spare infielder or two.)

Magpie - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 11:24 PM EDT (#221848) #

Never mind Jose. Does Damien Cox know about Johnny Mac and his .509 slugging pct?

ayjackson - Tuesday, August 31 2010 @ 11:53 PM EDT (#221849) #

Arencibia and Emaus are the guys I'd like to see.

For feel good sakes, I'd like to see Loewen enjoying a major league dugout for a month.

bpoz - Wednesday, September 01 2010 @ 10:43 AM EDT (#221857) #

I think Sept callups can be helpful. Maybe they help plan for next year.

R Ruiz got 115 ABs in 2009, most of them probably in Sept and was impressive. With no injury to Lind or Overbay he did not get to play much.

Relief pitcher Carlos Almanzar got his ML career started as a late/mid? season callup, so you never know.

I hope B Eamus impresses some team enough to get a ML opportunity in 2011-13. I love it when a Jay's prospect makes it to the ML.

I think our team should try to win as many games as possible this year. Play a good lineup to help other teams in their playoff races. 88 wins this year makes us an underdog in 2011. 85 wins...Forget playoffs in 2011? AA will make that call. Either way 2010 made big steps forward.

I believe we end 2010 still in building mode. But the finished product is quite close because:-
1) NYY,Bos,TB could crack due to age and $ for TB.
2)Our rotation is in place. The pen could be built strong and deep because the farm is pitching rich and we have trading chips. I also strongly believe that AA knows how to get what he wants in trades.
3) Don't know if the Offence & Defense is right yet.

I know AA has faith in himself. When he traded B Wallace he brushed off 1st base as a problem for next year. Maybe trade or incentive heavy offer to FAs. L Berkman,M Lowell?

92-93 - Wednesday, September 01 2010 @ 12:34 PM EDT (#221860) #

Totally unrelated to anything, but I wanted to mention it somewhere: if you're a Jays fan, please take the time to savour and enjoy Jose Bautista's hot streak.

No kidding. It's a pleasure watching Bautista stride to the plate on a nightly basis, and you have to absolutely love that swagger when he flips his bat after launching a HR against a team trying to bean him.

I've never heard before that being a September call up burns an option and I am inclined to think it doesn't, if i understand what i'm reading on Cott's correctly.

You are. An option year is only burned when a player is optioned down to from MLB to the minors, so it's not the September callup that burns an option - it's the move that sends the kid back to the farm next spring that does it. In Drabek's case he needs to be added to the 40 man roster anyway this winter to protect him from the Rule 5 draft so there's no harm in giving him coffee in September, provided it works with his innings limits.

and Molina's (D) is clearly overstated

I have a hard time believing Molina's D became awful over the winter. It's more likely he was always this guy, a catcher who wasn't anything special fielding his position but who was very good at controlling the running game as we've seen all year. If you want the Jays to pursue a different C you need to add to his cost Molina's 200k buyout.

TamRa - Wednesday, September 01 2010 @ 06:42 PM EDT (#221888) #

I think our team should try to win as many games as possible this year.

NOT proposing tanking anything but consider - right now the Jays hold the 20th pick n next years draft. The first 18 picks (because of three comp picks) are protected in terms of FA compensation.

so if you are in the crowd who wants the jays to chase Type A free agents, you want the Dodgers and marlins to pass the Jays in September.

China fan - Thursday, September 02 2010 @ 06:32 AM EDT (#221894) #

The Boston Globe, quoting a major-league source, says the Red Sox are "close to a deal" to acquire Lyle Overbay from the Jays. Not sure why the BoSox would do this, since they're basically out of the wild-card race and they've already begun trading veterans (Manny Delcarmen and Ramon Ramirez, both recently traded for prospects). Why would the Sox now reverse the trend and trade a prospect for a veteran? But if it's true, it suggests that the Jays haven't yet abandoned the idea of Adam Lind as a first-baseman. Shifting Lind to 1B would also open up room for the Jays to keep Fred Lewis as a DH if he's nudged aside by Snider next season. (This assumes that the Jays are serious in thinking that they can make an adjustment in Lewis to improve his hitting. For those scoffing at Lewis, keep in mind that his OPS this year is significantly higher than what the Jays are currently receiving from the DH slot.) If not Lewis, it opens the way for a free-agent acquisition at DH or 1B, since those are the easiest holes to fill from the free-agent market.

China fan - Thursday, September 02 2010 @ 06:34 AM EDT (#221895) #

Source for the Overbay report:

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2010/09/01/gm_not_in_giving_mood/?page=1

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